RESEARCH

The Role of Healthcare Facility Design on the Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals: A Literature Review

Among the findings, the perception of emergency department (ED) safety, linked to the built environment, accounted for 34% of the variance in the perception of work satisfaction in one study. The paper also highlights the context for this research by noting that the prevalence of burnout among nurses and physicians, which was 35%–54% before the COVID-19 pandemic, increased significantly to 70.5% among nurses after the pandemic began.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, Burnout/Workplace Stress, Caregivers/Healthcare Professionals

Setting or Context: Hospitals/Clinics

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management, Increased Social Engagement & Skills

Allied Profession Intersections: Landscape Design, Nursing

Type of Activity: Forest/Natural Area Immersion

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Standardized Assessment Tools

Access: Free

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Summary

This paper pesents a literature review aimed at synthesizing empirical evidence on the connection between healthcare facility design and the mental health outcomes of healthcare professionals. The study addresses the critical issue of mental exhaustion among healthcare staff, which was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The core premise is that the physical environment of healthcare facilities holds significant potential to mitigate stress and provide restorative experiences, serving as an effective intervention to prevent mental exhaustion, although this potential is currently underutilized. The research methodology involved a comprehensive search across multiple databases (Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science) for peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 1990 and 2020 (with some later additions), focusing on relationships between environmental design factors and staff mental health outcomes like stress, fatigue, job satisfaction, burnout, and well-being.

The review identified a total of 27 empirical articles that investigated various aspects of healthcare design, categorized into overall facility and perception, specific spaces, intangible elements (like light, sound, and views), and interior space/ergonomics. Findings indicated that design factors across these categories were associated with the examined mental health outcomes. For example, the design of patient areas, staff workspaces, lighting, and sound were frequently studied and found to influence staff mental health. Patient area design, in particular, was associated with all five outcomes reviewed, while staff workspace, light, and sound were linked to stress, fatigue, job satisfaction, and well-being. Design elements such as aesthetic appeal, a sense of belonging to the surroundings, the layout of units and specific spaces (patient rooms, staff work areas, break rooms), access to outdoor spaces and exterior views, appropriate light levels, controlled sound/noise, temperature, ventilation, visibility, material finishes/color, furniture quality, and ergonomics were all found to play a role in the mental health experiences of healthcare professionals.

Link

Jin, H.Y., Gold, C., Cho, J. et al. (2023). The role of healthcare facility design on the mental health of healthcare professionals: A literature review. HERD, 16(1), 270-286

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